PDF: Letter protesting appearance by Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey

MINNESOTA FEDERATED HUMANE SOCIETIES
6613 Penn Avenue South
Suite 100
Richfield, Minnesota 55423
612-866-8663 612-861 -1786 (FAX)
1-877-8ANIIVIAL (1-877-826-4625)
Mr. Samuel J. Clark
City Attorney
City of St. Paul, MN
15 Kellogg Boulevard West
400 City Hall
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
February 1, 2016
VIA FAX ONLY: 651-298-5619
It is my understanding that the City of St. Paul owns the Xce! Energy Center. Therefore, I
write to you in your capacity as attorney for the Xcel Center.
I represent the Minnesota Federated Humane Societies. The Federation trains, certifies
and appoints state humane agent in Minnesota, and processes the complaints
Minnesotans file with it alleging animal abuse, cruelty and neglect.
Today, we received a complaint alleging that animal cruelty may take place this coming
weekend, Friday, February 5th and/or Saturday, February 6*^, at the Xcel Center when it
hosts the "World's Toughest Rodeo. More specifically, the complainant alleges that an act
called "Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey" constitutes cruelty to animals.
The complainant states that in the act, "Whiplash" a Capuchin Monkey, is tied and tethered
to the back of a Border Collie dog, which is then raced around the arena at speeds up to
20-30 m.p.h., with sudden stops, turns, rear's up, etc. The complainant alleges this
subjects the Monkey to significant risk of concussion, whiplash, concussive effects, neck
injury, broken bones, trauma, etc. If the claims are true as presented, then the act would
very likely violate Minnesota animal cruelty statutes. This is especially true if the Monkey is
indeed somehow tethered to the dog.
We are appraising you at this time of the complaint, and that the Federation has accepted
it as credible and we are investigating. Further, we ask your assistance in the investigation
to determine whether the monkey is actually attached somehow to the dog and saddle, or
if the monkey is 'hanging on' to the dog through its own volition. We have also reached out
to some primate veterinarians to enlist their expert opinion of the risk to the monkey and
the dog.
I'
Finally, if our investigation determines that the act does likely violate Minnesota Statutes,
we will ask that the City of St. Paul remove it from the rodeo presentation. If the City should
refuse, we will seek a TRO against the City by later this week. Hopefully, it will not come to
that. Thank you for your kind cooperation in this matter.
MFHS General Counsel
Cc: Mayor Chris Coleman